St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-15
GEN. RUGER RETURNS.
He Tells an Interesting Story of
His Late Campaign Against the
Crows

He Tells an Interesting Story OF
His Late Campaign Against the
Crows.
Gen. T. II. Ruger, resting from the
fatigues engendered by his recent cam
paign against the rebelliOuS Crows, sat
in his library enjoying a post-prandial
cigar last evening when representa-
tive of the GLOBE called upon him. 1t
was not difficult to understand why his
campaign was short and decisive, for
every lineament of the square face be-
tokened determination and strict adhe
renee to what the dictates of duty
might demand. No wonder the Indians
had enough of such an officer in one
short skirmiSh, for he proved that he
was not to be trified with, and the abor-
igines understood the material the man
was composed of and governed them
selves accordingly. Il have not yet
made up my official report to the secre-
taIy of war;" said the general, land L
will be delayed for several days
in its preparation until L can
obtain the necessary details from
the various officers who served
under me, but / think L can safely say
that there will be no further disturb
ances on the Crow reservation this win
ter. and matters have settled down in
their accustomed channels already. Re-
moving the disturbing element from the
midst of the Indians will have most
salutaTy effect, and that was the prin-
cipal reason why those who created the
trouble OH the reservation were
arrested and will be tempo
rarily confined at Fort Smelling.
There are eight of these prisoners, but
one of the number is in the hospital re-
covering from the effects of the amputa-
ton of an arm. His name is Tax Win.
kle: that is the way it sounds in En-
glIsh, and his injury was self-in!icted
while striving to escape capture. When
he found himself cOrnered he attempted
to kill himself, but only succeeded in
manning himself for life. As soon as
he can be removed from the hospital he
will be imprisoned with the other seven
offenders. whose names are: Carries
His-FOod, LOoks-With-H Is-Ears. Rock,
The Bank. He-knOwS-His-CowS and
the chiefs Crazy Head al d Deaf Bull.
There was another Indian who was con-
cerned in the trouble, WrapS-HiS-Tail,
but he has gone to the happy hunting
grounds, having been one of those
killed in the skirmiSh at the same time
Sword Bearer was shot. The latter had
impressed the Indians with the idea
that he was invulnerable, and when ne.
rode out in front of his band they
thought no harm could come to him
from our rifles. When the fight begun
he was looked out for particularly, and
although he rode back in his ranks with
a view
To HIDING HIMSELF,
a bullet found him. and after that our
task was comparatively an easy one.
The Indians were OveraWed too, by our
superior members, and they could not
have escaped either death or capture
from the disposition that was made of
our troops. Some few might have stray
gled off during the encounter. but we
had the advantage of an open country
and retreat to the mountains in the
rear was well nigh impossible
as the soldiers of my command were be-
tween them and the Indians. After
Sword Bearer was killed the Indians
were completely cOwed and cheerfully
acceded to the demand for a surrender
of the prime movers in the trouble at
the agency. The braves who had lis
tened to the harangueS of this medicine
man numbered. should think. upwards
of $50 men pretty well armed, some
of them with Winchester re-
peating rifles. There was an er-
roneOus impression conveyed by the
dispatches sent from the agency the
evening succeeding the SkirmiSh, by
which it was made to appear that ten of
our men were wounded. We lost one
corporal and had two privateS slightly
injured, while the casualties among the
Indians were much greater. II we had
desired the entire band could have been
eXterminated, but did not wish to shed
unnecessary blood and hOstilitieS
ceased with the fall of the medicine
man and few others. The removal of
the Indians to Fort Smelling means that
they are merely in the custody of the
military authorities, awaiting orders as
to their final destination by the secre-.
tary of the interior, and only those con-
cerned in the firing into the traders
store the night of Sept. 80, 1887, were
arrested. Those engaged in the rad on
the PieganS after horses are still with
their tribe and do not think anything
will be done with them, although
their names are in the possess
sion of Indian Inspector Armstrong.
Our campaign lasted trifie over three
weeks and the details generally have
already been given in the dispatches to
the press. so that | do not know of any
material facts that can add TO what has
already been printed. My report will
be submitted to the secretary of war,
and if he sees fit TO prOmulgate it. all
the details will be given out at Wash
ington. Our prisoners will be closely
confined in the guard louise at Fort
Smelling and will not he allowed to
communicate with any one until
their final disposition has been agreed
upon. Separating them from their
tribe and families will have very ben
efieial effect on other Indians who might
be inclined to act unruly, and the lead
ing men of the Crows are very quick to
appreciate this fact. They did not coun-
tenance Sword Bearer or his actions,
and this mans death has removed the
principal disturbing element in the re-
cent Il Ouble. All the settlers are con-
WINGED that there is TO be no renewal of
depredatiOns by the Indians and think
/ can safely say that everything is
quiet OH the Crow reservation and likely
I a remain So;